MALLORY FRANCES BRIDGMAN

Date of Birth: Feb. 24, 1996 

Time of Birth: 4:53 PM

Weight:  5 lb. 15 oz.

  Length:  19 1/2 inches

Here is the very first picture of Mallory taken in the NICU 

We found out on July 28, 1995 that we were expecting our first baby.  Everything went great and we didn't tell our families until Thanksgiving.  It was hard keeping it a secret but I wanted to make the announcement when I had my whole famility together.  It was such a special day!  Not only was this the first grandchild for my parents, but also the first great-grandchild.  Our due date was April1, 1996 - which is funny since that was the date I was due on back in 1968.   Of course, babies make their entrance whenever THEY want to.  From our 28-week ultrasound, our OB thought we were having a little girl but would not say he was 100% sure.  We were just pleased that the baby looked healthy.

On February 23, 1996 we had dinner with friends then came home early to prepare for a trip to David's hometown to attend our first shower.  We thought for sure that we had plenty of time before the baby arrived since I was only 34 weeks along.  As I prepared for bed, I noticed quite a bit of fluid leaking each time I stood up.  It was not a "gush" as I expected so I never suspected my water had broke.  Finally, I mentioned it to David and he insisted that we go to the hospital as a precaution.  After all our preparation, I never imagined going into labor this early.  When we arrived, they determined that it was my water and that I could not leave the hospital.  I was given antibiotics to fight infection, magnesium sulfate to stop labor and steroid shots to help develop the babies' lungs.  We waited all night to see if the medication was working.  By 9 AM I was still dialating and having contractions.  My OB decided that I would have the baby today.  I was moved into a labor, delivery, recovery room and given an epidural which, in turn, slowed down my labor.  Eventually I was put on pitocin to start labor going again.  It was a very busy day.  I called my family to tell them what was happening and throughout the course of the day, had a roomful of people.  I enjoyed having family and friends around me.

At 4 PM, the nurse made everyone leave since I was ready to push.  The OB came in and we got busy!! At 4:53 PM Mallory Frances Bridgman came into this world weighing 5 pounds 15 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. The NICU staff took her to a separate area in my room to monitor her condition.  Her apgars were 6 and 7 which was good for a baby born 6 weeks early.  I got to hold her a few minutes before they took her away to NICU.  Luckily she didn't have any health problems and only had to stay for 6 days to make sure she didn't develop respiratory difficulties.  After delivery, my OB discovered I had a bicornuate uterus that had caused my premature rupture of membranes.  Actually, it was a partial septum making my uterus heart-shaped instead of the normal pear-shape.  I was glad to at least know what the cause was since I probably would have blamed myself for doing too much.

We brought Mallory home on March 1, 1996 and have enjoyed every minute of being parents.  We will be celebrating nine years of marriage this August (1997) and will be welcoming another child - a boy - in October.  We are hoping he doesn't make his arrival quite as early.  I will  be updating this page when he is born.        To Be Continued....